Belle rocked in the chair by the fire. Her gray hair, usually confined to a braid, flowed down over her shoulders. The fire crackled, reflecting in her hollow eyes. Her fingers twisted her wedding ring around her ring finger. It was a simple thing, something most women wouldn't have looked at twice. Three lines of golden wire were braided together. The craftsmanship was exquisite, so perfect Belle couldn't tell where the ends were joined. It hadn't been Rumpelstiltskin's first choice for her. Belle knew that if it was up to him, he would have gotten her the biggest ring with the flashiest diamond. Belle liked this single ring, though. It reminded her of their old world, where life was slower and simpler. Rumpelstiltskin had told her about his past, before he was the Dark One. He'd told her how they'd been poor and while Belle understood he resented that, she almost wished she'd known him then. Before power changed him, back when he was a simple spinner. Belle raised the ring to her lips,

"I miss you." she whispered. Rumpelstiltskin was seven years dead, exact to the day. He'd slipped on ice and cracked his skull, causing some sort of brain trauma. Belle had been too numb to understand anything the doctors said, and now she was too old to care. Belle sighed and stood, her old body cracking as she moved. She trusted the fire to die on its own as she slowly shuffled to the stairs. Belle grabbed the hand rail and slowly made her way up the stairs. At the landing, Belle turned and walked to the bedroom. No matter how much time passed, Belle still thought the bed felt empty without Rumpelstiltskin. She shed her bathrobe and clicked off the light. Belle closed her eyes and fell asleep, still fiddling with her ring in her sleep.

The next day, they found Belle dead in her bed. She died peacefully in her sleep. Didn't feel a thing, the doctor said. But when they looked at Belle's face, anyone could tell what she felt: Relief. Belle's last emotions on this earth was relief. Belle was relieved not because she was dying, but because she was no longer alone.